You asked about my numbers, so here they are. I was on drug holiday for 5 mos. Then I got lab work done. VL=over 70,000, and CD4 was 483, then was on combivir and viread for a month after. now off for several weeks . My Dr. wants me to do his limited access program for atazavir plus 2 drugs I have never taken. There aren't any I havent been on!!
Thank-once again.

Response from Dr. Henry

Whether the atazanavir will work depends alot on whether you developed much protease inhibitor resistance while you were taking them (given that you had a lot of GI complaints while taking them). Another important consideration is what your lowest CD4 count has been. If never under 350 then waiting for even more drugs and more information may be wise. If your CD4 count has been under 200 then you might not the luxury of waiting. Atazanavir usually is well tolerated from the GI standpoint though if there is some PI resistance then low dose ritonavir might be needed to boost the levels higher. The new formulation of amprenavir may be available next year (simpler and better tolerated), T-20, and perhaps some intergrase inhibitor may appear over the next 1-2 years so your options may improve if time is on your side. KH

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